Roll drive mechanism

ABSTRACT

A roll drive mechanism for rotating a roll of web material in a direction to unwind the web. The roll comprises web convolutions wound on a core. The web unwound from the roll is taken up by any suitable take-up mechanism such as a spooling machine where the web is continuously, sequentially wound onto spools. The roll drive mechanism comprises a primary drive mechanism for driving the roll core, and a secondary drive mechanism movable between a retracted position, in which it is out of engagement with the roll, and a roll engaged position, in which it drivingly engages side surfaces of a plurality of outer convolutions radially spaced from the core substantially simultaneously with the driving of the core. Such simultaneous driving of the core and roll convolutions prevents the roll from collapsing as the web is unwound therefrom.

White et a1.

3,851,834 Dec. 3, r974 ROLL DRIVE MECHANISM Inventors: Neil S. White, Rochester; Donald R.

Mansfield, Bloomfield; Noel H. Matthews, Rochester, all of NY.

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY.

Filed: Mar. 8, 1973 Appl. No.: 339,464

US. Cl. 242/683 [51] Int. Cl B65h 19/02 [58] Field of Search 242/683, 67.1 R, 78.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,622,812 12/1952 Brastad 242/683 2,909,339 10/1959 Van Hook 242/683 3,134,554 5/1964 Dexter 242/683 3,310,253 3/1967 Rayfield 242/683 Primary Examiner.lohn W. Huckert 57 ABSTRACT A roll drive mechanism for rotating a roll of web material in a direction to unwind the web. The roll comprises'web convolutions wound on a core. The Web unwound from the roll is taken up by any suitable take-up mechanismsuch as a spooling machine where the web is continuously, sequentially wound onto spools. The roll drive mechanism comprises a primary drive mechanism for driving the roll core, and a secondary drive mechanism movable between a retracted position, in which it is out of engagement with the roll, and a roll engaged position, in which it drivingly engages side surfaces of a plurality of outer convolutions radially spaced from the core substantially simulta neously with the driving of the core. Such simultaneous driving of the core and roll convolutions prevents the roll from collapsing as the web is unwound therefrom.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures VZTEUUM sou/m5 co/Vmot MECHANISM PATENTELBEC 3:974

SHEET 10? 2 F/LM SPOOL/N6 MECHA/V/SM LOOPER TAKE up MECHANISM WEB ROLL MECHANISM 351L834 mama, m w a 3 MECHANISM VA CUUM SOURCE VACUUM .SOU/PCE CON TROL MECHA/V/SM ROLL DRIVE MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to drive mechanisms, and more specifically to an improved roll drive mechanism.

2. Description of the Prior Artcloser to the rapidly driven core are driven faster than the radially spaced outer convolutions of the roll. This causes loose convolutions to form between the inner and outer web convolutions of the roll resulting in the roll collapsing upon itself. This and other disadvantages of the known roll core drive mechanisms are eliminated in this invention by providing a secondary drive mechanism for engaging and simultaneously driving a plurality of the radially spaced outer convolutions of the web roll as the core is being driven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a web roll drive mechanism is disclosed having primary drive means drivingly coupled to the core of the web roll for driving the web roll in an unwinding direction, and secondary drive means movable between a retracted position, in which the secondary drive means is out of engagement with the roll, and a roll engaged position, in which the secondary drive means drivingly engages side surfaces of a plurality of radially It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved web roll drive mechanism that eliminates the collapse of web rolls of large diameter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved web roll drive mechanism that is of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

The invention and its objects and advantages will be-' come more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION-OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: I

FIG. 1 is a block diagram view illustrating a film spooling operation in which a preferred embodiment of the roll drive mechanism of this invention is embodied;

FIG; 2 is a side elevational view in section illustrating a preferred embodiment of the roll drive mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 3 is anenlarged segmented side elevational view taken substantially from line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the vacuum gland utilized in the roll drive mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged segmental view in section of a portion of the secondary drive plate conforming to a non flat web roll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 7 Because drive mechanisms are well known, thepr'esent description will be'directedin particular'toelements forming part'of, or cooperating more directlywith, apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Drive motors and drive elements not specifically shown or described herein should be understood to be selectable from those'known in the art.

spaced outer convolutions substantially simultaneously with the driving of the roll core. In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the'secondary drive means is responsive to and supported by the primary drive means for concentric rotation, and the secondary drive means comprises a rotatably mounted plate having a side face drivingly engaging the side surface of a plurality of the outer web roll convolutions. In another modification 'of the invention, the secondary drive plate comprises an annular support disc and an annular resil-' ient vacuum gland secured to the disc for engaging the side surface of some of the outer web roll convolutions. In still another modification, the vacuum gland is provided with a groove facing the surface of the web roll and connectable to a vacuum source. The vacuum gland is formed from a resilient material, and is detached from the support disc along its inner and outer peripheral borders to permit the gland to adhere to non-flat or bowed side surfaces of a roll.

The advantages of the web roll drive mechanism of this invention is the elimination of excessive speed differential between the innermost and outermost convolutions of the web roll, which normally causes the forlapse of the web roll.

With reference to FIG. 1 the web roll drive mechanism of this'invention' is illustrated in connection with a high speed film spooling operation of a type known in the art. In such a film spooling 'operation,'film from v a large film supply roll is taken up by a looper take-up mechanism interposed between the supply roll and a spooling machine, and supplied to the spooling machine where the film is automatically successively wound onto spools or reels. For each cycle of operation of the spooling machine, the leading end of the previously severed film is attached to a spool, the spool rotated rapidly to wind the film on the spool,'and the film stopped at the completion of the winding operation to again permit severing and attachment of the film to the next succeeding spool. Accordingly, for each such cycle of operation, the film is accelerated from a stand still to a maximum speed of approximately 5,000 feet per minute, and then decelerated to a stand still in a matter of seconds. To accommodate the high rate of film acceleration and deceleration in the film spooling machine, the looper take-up mechanism controls the operation of the web roll drive mechanism by any suitable mechanical and electrical means to supply film at a rate synchronized with the repetitive start, rapid run,

and stop demand of the film spooling machine.

The web or film roll drive mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises primary and secondary drive means for driving or rotating a web roll 8 in a direction to unwind and supply the web to the looper take-up mechanism. The web or film roll 8 is of a known type comprising a core 10 onto which web convolutions are wound to provide a web roll up to 22 inches in diameter or more. Although the roll drive mechanism of this invention finds specific utility in unwinding a film roll in a film spooling operation, such drive mechanism can, of course, be used in other suitable operations, such as in web winding.

The primary drive means for driving web roll 8 is of a known type comprising a drive shaft 12 mounted for rotation within bearings 13, only one of which is shown, interposed between shaft 12 and a cylindrical housing 14 secured by any suitable means to a fixed frame 16. The shaft 12 is provided adjacent bearing 13 with an annular support ring 18 secured thereto to which an annular drive plate 20 is secured by screws 22 or the like. The outer surface 24 of drive plate 20 provides a backstop for a side surface of web roll 8 mounted on a spindle 26 at one end of shaft 12. The drive plate 20 is further provided with laterally extending dogs 28 for engaging complimentary ribs 30 on film roll core lit) for driving the core and web roll upon rotation of drive plate 20. The web core 10 is releasably held on spindle 26 and against drive plate 20 by any suitable detent means such as a radially compressible spring retaining ring 32. The opposite end of drive shaft 12 is coupled by any suitable gearing arrangement, not shown, to any suitable hydraulic drive motor or the like controlled by the looper arm mechanism.

The secondary drive means for engaging and driving aside surface of web roll 8 comprises a cylindrical member 34 mounted for rotatable and axial movement on a bearing 36 interposed between cylindrical mem ber 34 and a cylindrical race 38 secured to stationary housing 14. One end of cylindrical member 34 is of a substantially H-shaped cross section for supporting a pair of opposed O-rings 40 to provide a fluidly sealed cylinder movable .within an annular bore 42 formed by a pair of mating rings 44, 46 of substantially L-shaped cross section secured to stationary housing 14. The annular bore 42is connected through opening 48 in ring member 46 to any suitable source of vacuum to provide the motive force for imparting axial movement to cylindrical member 34. The opposite end of cylindrical member 34 has a radially extending annular flange St) to, which an annular support disc 52 is secured by any suitable means such as screws or the like. An annular vacuum gland 54 formed from from any suitable resilient material such as rubber or the like has an inner annular ring portion designated *A (FIG. 2) with one surface thereof secured to the support disc by any suitable means. The outer and inner peripheral ring portions designated 3" and C respectively of gland 54 are detached from support disc 52 to provide separation of the annular surface of ring portion *B and C of gland 54 from disc 52 to permit the resilient gland to conform to the, side surface of roll 8 in those instances where such surface is not entirely flat, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The opposite surface of gland 54 is provided with a sinusoidal groove 56 provided by interdigitating fingers 58 as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The groove 56 is provided with one or more openings 60 extending through gland 54, support disc 52, and flange 50, and openings 60 are adapted, upon rotation of cylindrical member 34, to be successively moved into register with an opening 62 in a non-rotatable annular plate 64. The plate is secured to an annular ring 66, and the plate and ring are urged into sealing engagement with flange 56' by springs 68 encircling a plurality of angularly spaced posts 70 secured to the ring, only one of which is shown in FIG. 2. The springs 68 are interposed between ring 66 and a washer 72 which is supported by shaft 70. Shaft 70 extends from linear bearing 79 housed in flange '74 extending from fixed ring member 46. The vacuum gland 54, support disc 52 and cylindrical member 34 are axially movable as a unit upon proper manipulation of the vacuum source by any suitable control means from a normal retracted position, in which gland 54 is disengaged from a web roll 8, to an engaged position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. In such engaged position, vacuum gland 54 engages the side surface of web roll 8, and at least one drive pin 76, extending laterally from flange 50, is urged into a complimentary opening 78 in drive plate 24. Accordingly, rotation of the primary drive unit through drive shaft 12 also imparts rotation to the secondary drive means through the pin 76 and hole 78 connection. Accordingly, both the primary and secondary drive means apply a driving torque to radially spaced portions of web roll 8, thereby minimizing the speed differential between the inner and outer web convolutions, and preventing collapse of the web roll. When the diameter of web roll 8 decreases to the point that the vacuum in vacuum gland 54 can no longer be maintained, vacuum is applied by the control means to cylinder bore 42 for axially moving cylindrical member 34 and the remaining parts of the secondary drive means to its retracted position as seen dotted in FIG. 2. In this position, vacuum gland 54 is no longer in engagement with the side surface of roll 8, and drive pins 76 are withdrawn from openings 78 in drive plate 24. This permits the primary drive means to function alone without the added inertia of the secondary drive means.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove.

We claim:

1. In a drive mechanism for a roll of web material, the combination comprising:

primary drive means drivingly coupled to said roll for driving said roll of material; and

secondary drive means drivingly coupled intermittently to said roll and to said primary drive means, said secondary drive means being movable between a retracted position, in which said secondary drive means is drivingly uncoupled from said roll of material and said primary drive means, and a roll engaged position, in which said secondary drive means is drivingly coupled to said roll of material and to said primary drive means and is responsive to said primary drive means for driving said roll of material.

2. The invention according to claim I wherein said secondary drive means is rotatably supported by said primary drive means.

3. The invention according to claim l wherein said primary drive means is rotatable about an axis, and said secondary drive means is rotatably supported by said primary drive means for concentric rotation therewith.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said primary drive means is directly coupled to said roll, and said secondary drive means is releasably coupled to said roll.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said secondary drive means comprises rotatably mounted plate means having a side face for drivingly engaging a side face of said roll of material.

6. The invention according to claim 5, and further including a vacuum source, and wherein said side face of said plate means is provided with a groove connectable to said vacuum source for drivingly coupling said plate means to said roll.

7. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said plate means is annular, and comprises an annular support disc and an annular vacuum gland secured thereto having said side face.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said gland is formed of a resilient material and is separated from said disc along outer and inner peripheral portions of said gland.

9. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said roll is wound on a core, said primary drive means is coupled to said core, and said secondary drive means is rotatably mounted on said primary drive means.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said primary drive means comprises a drive shaft rotatable about an axis, and said secondary drive means is also rotatable about said axis.

11. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said roll is wound on a core, said primary drive means is coupled to said core, and said secondary drive means is rotatably mounted on said primary drive means for concentric rotation therewith, said secondary drive means further having radially extending annular plate means having a side face drivingly engaging a side face of said roll.

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said side face of said plate means is provided with a groove, and further including a vacuum source, and means for connecting said vacuum source tosaid groove.

13. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said connecting means comprises a fixed ring having at least one opening connected to said vacuum source, and resilient means for biasing said ring into sliding engagement with said plate means with said opening at least intermittently connected to said groove.

14. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said plate means comprises an annular support disc, and a resilient annular vacuum gland secured thereto having said side face provided with a groove therein, and further including a vacuum source connected to said gland groove.

15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein said gland is detached from said disc along outer and inner i of said gland. 

1. In a drive mechanism for a roll of web material, the combination comprising: primary drive means drivingly coupled to said roll for driving said roll of material; and secondary drive means drivingly coupled intermittently to said roll and to said primary drive means, said secondary drive means being movable between a retracted position, in which said secondary drive means is drivingly uncoupled from said roll of material and said primary drive means, and a roll engaged position, in which said secondary drive means is drivingly coupled to said roll of material and to said primary drive means and is responsive to said primary drive means for driving said roll of material.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said secondary drive means is rotatably supported by said primary drive means.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said primary drive means is rotatable about an axis, and said secondary drive means is rotatably supported by said primary drive means for concentric rotation therewith.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said primary drive means is directly coupled to said roll, and said secondary drive means is releasably coupled to said roll.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said secondary drive means comprises rotatably mounted plate means having a side face for drivingly engaging a side face of said roll of material.
 6. The invention according to claim 5, and further including a vacuum source, and wherein said side face of said plate means is provided with a groove connectable to said vacuum source for drivingly coupling said plate means to said roll.
 7. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said plate means is annular, and comprises an annular support disc and an annular vacuum gland secured thereto having said side face.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said gland is formed of a resilient material and is separated from said disc along outer and inner peripheral portions of said gland.
 9. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said roll is wound on a core, said primary drive means is coupled to said core, and said secondary drive means is rotatably mounted on said primary drive means.
 10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said primary drive means comprises a drive shaft rotatablE about an axis, and said secondary drive means is also rotatable about said axis.
 11. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said roll is wound on a core, said primary drive means is coupled to said core, and said secondary drive means is rotatably mounted on said primary drive means for concentric rotation therewith, said secondary drive means further having radially extending annular plate means having a side face drivingly engaging a side face of said roll.
 12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said side face of said plate means is provided with a groove, and further including a vacuum source, and means for connecting said vacuum source to said groove.
 13. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said connecting means comprises a fixed ring having at least one opening connected to said vacuum source, and resilient means for biasing said ring into sliding engagement with said plate means with said opening at least intermittently connected to said groove.
 14. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said plate means comprises an annular support disc, and a resilient annular vacuum gland secured thereto having said side face provided with a groove therein, and further including a vacuum source connected to said gland groove.
 15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein said gland is detached from said disc along outer and inner peripheral portions of said gland. 